turn of the people to Rongelap. The body levels of
the unexposed people who returned to the island
also increased, becoming tndistinguishable from
thuse of the origtnally exposed group. However,
the levels remain well below the maximum per-
missible Limits. Analyses of bone samples on one of
the men whodied showed 3.7 stronttum-90 units/g
calcium.
OTHER STUDIES
Other studies have been carried out on the
Rongelap people which are not directly related to
complete or iost in most instances, and vital statis-
tics are therefore inadequate. Trust Territory
officials are now attempting to assemble such data.
3. There is uncertainty on the part of some of
the Marshallese as to their exact ages, particulariy
among the older group. This imposes certain difhculties in interpreting some of the studies to be
outlined.
COMPARISON POPULATIONS
During the first 2 years, two separate groups of
Marshallese people were used for comparison,
radiation effects. An intensive intestinal parasite
survey showed that the people were infected with
each of comparable size to the exposed Rongelap
ing did not entirely account for the generally high
attrition rate over the 2 years, which made it unsatisfactory. At the time of the 3-year survey, it
was found that during the preceding 12 months
the Rongelap population at Majuro Atoll had
doubled because of the influx of relatives who had
come back from other islands to live with them.
These people had been away trom Rongelap
Atoll at the tume of the accidental exposure. This
group matched reasonably well for age and sex
and was of comparable size. Since the return of
the people to Rongelap, however, this group has
about doubied in size.
Since the people are of the same stock genetically, they are uniquely appropriate to serve asa
comparison population and have, therefore, been
used since 1957.
many types of protozoa and helminths. This find-
incidence of eosinophiha, Othe: nndings that need
further explanation are the general anemic tendencies, the high plasma protein levels with in-
creased gamma globulin, and the higher than
normal levels of serum protein-bound sodine and
vitamin B,,. Another investigation is concerned
with genetic studies and determination of the
anthropological background of the Marshallese
from genetically determined traits. Among the
traits studied were blood groups and hemoglobin
and haptoglobin types. The results shed some fight
on the origin of these people and the homogeniety
of the population. Their blood groups resemble
most closely those of the people fram Southeast
Asia and Indonesia, and the population appears
to be relatively homogeneous.
DIFFICULTIES ASSOCIATED
WITH THE EXAMINATIONS
As mentioned in previous reports, several diffi-.
culties were associated with carrying out the ex-
aminations as well as interpreting the findings.
|. The language barrier made examinations
difficult, since very little English is spoken by the
Marshallese. However, there were sufficient English-speaking Marshallese to assist the medical
team in Must instances.
2. The lack of vital statistics or demographic
data on the Marshallese imposed a serious dithculty in interpretation and evaluation ofthe medical data. Records of births. deaths, etc.. have been
made by the heatth aides or mawistrates ol the villaves and supposedly forwarded to the district adHunisttator, however, such records have been i-
group and matched for age and sex. However,this
population was found to be unstable, with a large
1959 Survey
SACKGROUND MATERIAL
Organization
For the 1959 survey, 5 years after the accident,
the medical team consisted of seven physicians,
one dentist, two scientific specialists. and nine
technicians from various institutions and laboratories in the United States. Several Marshallese
practitioners and interpretersassisted in carrying
out the examinations.
A group offive scientists from the University of
Washington, headed by Dr. E.E. Held. accompanied the group to collect sou, marine, and plant
samples for radiochemical analysis. These studies
are not tacluded in this report.
Prior to the main survey on Rongelap, several
Inembers of the team visited Majuro to examine